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Getting a Blood Test – Tips You Should Know

Preparing For a Blood Test – Tips You Need To Know

If you’re scheduled to have blood work done, then it is important to find out from your doctor or health care professional the “rules” you should folllow before your blood is drawn.

If You are to be “fasting” for blood work, which generally means you will not have eaten for 10-12 hours prior to your test, there are some additional instructions which your doctor may tell you to follow.

Common tips are:

1. 24 Hours before your appointment to have your bloodwork drawn do not drink alcohol

2.If your appointment falls in the morning hours then the night before have your evening meal before 7pm. Avoid foods like butter, margarine, creams, gravies, salad dressings, whole milk or other fatty foods and stay away from anything fried and/or fatty meats. Diabetic patients should continue their regular diets but still avoid fatty foods.

3. For blood work in the morning, after 7pm no more food should be eaten. Diabetic patients should check with their health care providers and will continue eating their regularly scheduled snacks, but still should avoid foods with fat. Non diabetic patients who are “fasting” can have black coffee, plain water, or tea without any cream or sugar. After midnight do not eat or drink anything if your bloodwork is scheduled in the morning. In the morning drink one cup of water about 30 minutes to one hour prior to your scheduled bloodwork, then sips of water if needed.

4. Check with your doctor about taking your regular medications with water the morning of your test. Most of the time your doctor will want you to continue to take your regular medications, but make sure to double check for your specific situation.

5. Write down for your doctor all the prescription and non-prescription medications you are taking, and make sure you have discussed these in advance with your physician. Blood test results can be affected by the types of medications and/or supplements or non-prescription items that you are taking.

Holter Monitor Testing

What is a Holter Monitor?

A Holter Monitor is a machine that your doctor will order which will continuously record your heart rhythms for 24 hours or more. The monitor is worn continuously throughout the day and night and because it is worn for an extended time period, it can help physicians determine if there is a problem with the heart that would not normally be detected with a regular EKG which only checks the patient’s heart rhythym for less than a minute.

The white patches you see in the photo above are attached to your chest area and are hooked up to a small box (see the black box in the patient’s pocket area) that will store your heart rhythym and rate information while you are wearing the monitor. It is helpful to keep a journal while you are wearing the monitor detailing the date/time/activities you do while wearing the device along with any symptoms you have. Writing down specifically what symptoms you have and the date/time they occured will help your physician when analyzing the results of the test. It is also helpful to rate your symptoms if you have any while wearing the monitor on a level from 1-10. For example, if you are walking briskly uphill and have chest pain, you would write down in your journal something like this if you felt your chest pain was at about a level “4″ on a scale from 1-10.

Sample Journal Entry for Patient Wearing Holter Monitor:

Date:
1/1/current year

Activity: Walking uphill briskly

Symptoms: chest pain level 4 on scale from 1-10 with 1 being the least and 10 being the worst

Download A Sample Holter Monitor Log – With Data

Download Sample Holter Monitor Log – Without Data Blank Patient Symptom Form

When your monitor is attached the technician may shave your skin so that the patches will adhere better. It is also a good idea to ask for some replacement patches so that if the patches become dislodged or fall off, that you can replace the patch and re-attach the lead.

It is also a good idea to take a shower or bathe before you have the holter monitor attached. You will not be able to take a shower while you are wearing the monitor.

Northwest Obstetrics And Gynecology Associates Inc.

Northwest Obstetrics And Gynecology Associates Inc. provides compassionate professional care and is committed towards medical excellence.

PRIMARY CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER

PRIMARY CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER
100 North Mario Capecchi Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84113-1100

Medical Care for your child requires specialized care and Primary Children’s Medical Center has served the needs of pediatric patients across Ustah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Montana. Caring and treating for young patients with complex illness and injury Primary Children’s Medical Center is recognized as one of the top children’s hospitals in the US.

ADC Bastrop

ADC BASTROP
441 Hwy 71 West
Bastrop, Texas 78602-3937

Affiliated with the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, the ADC Bastrop Location offers progressive medical care that is personalized and coordinated among multi-specialties.

Throughout Austin and Central Texas you can find the care you need when you need it at the Austin Diagnostic Clinics.

BASTROP MEDICAL CENTER & PROFESSIONAL CLINIC

BASTROP MEDICAL CENTER & PROFESSIONAL CLINIC
441 Hwy 71 West
Bastrop, Texas 78602

Urgent Care Center in Bastrop Texas providing care to the entire family. Laboratory services are also available in addition to x-ray, and ultrasound capabilities along with a department for rehabilitation.

ADC Easy Care Clinic

ADC EASYCARE CLINIC
2400 Cedar Bend Dr.
Austin, Texas 78758

Same Day Appointments and walk-in medical care for children, adolescents and adults. EasyCare Clinic in Austin Texas can also provide ongoing medical care for those who do not have an established physician.

Advanced Allergy Asthma & Sinus P.C.

Finding the right physician to treat one’s allergies need not be difficult. A new practice in New York City, Advanced Allergy, Asthma and Sinusitis is centrally located in the heart of Manhattan, New York, and is only a block away from Grand Central Station. Whether you’re needing care and living in New York, or surrounding areas, or if you’re from out of state, or even an International Patient, the practice of Boyan Hadjiev, MD is ready to help adults and pediatric patients.

You’ll find Dr. Boryan Hadjiev to provide knowledgeable, compassionate care and he’ll answer your questions and work around your schedule in order to make certain that you receive the very best in state of the art care and treatment.

McGreevy Clinic Avera Brandon

McGreevy Clinic Avera Brandon is a member of the regions largest and strongest health care network, offering patients excellent care of the highest clinical quality, close to home.

Within the network of Avera Health are 228 care locations in 82 communities in five states, including hospitals, primary care clinics, specialty care clinics, long term care facilities, retirement communities, home medical equipment outlets and research centers.

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